All Chapters of ONE More Time to make it right: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

"You're getting married?" Maxwell's voice was barely above a whisper, his face a mask of disbelief.Alice nodded, her eyes downcast. She had invited Maxwell to a quiet cafe and near her apartment, knowing this conversation wouldn't be easy. "Yes, Carson proposed last night. After everything that happened with Charlie's kidnapping, we realized life's too short to waste time."Maxwell sat back in his chair, his coffee untouched. The bustling café seemed to fade away as he processed Alice's words. "I see," he said finally, his voice tight. "And you're sure about this?"Alice looked up, meeting his gaze. "I am, Max. I know it might seem sudden, but Carson is Charlie's father. We have a chance to be a real family now."Maxwell's jaw clenched. He had known this was a possibility, had seen the way Alice and Carson had grown closer during the search for Charlie. But hearing it confirmed felt like a physical blow."What about us?" he asked, unable to keep the hurt from his voice. "Alice, I tho

"Three weeks to go," Carson said, wrapping his arms around Alice from behind as she stood in front of the calendar. "Are you ready for this?"Alice leaned back into his embrace, a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in her stomach. "As ready as I'll ever be. Though I'm not sure I'm prepared for the whirlwind that is your mother."Carson chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Don't worry, love. I'll protect you from Hurricane Elizabeth."As if on cue, Alice's phone rang. It was Carson's mother, Elizabeth MacPherson, calling for their daily wedding planning check-in."Alice, dear!" Elizabeth's voice bubbled through the speaker. "Have you decided on the flowers yet? I was thinking roses and lilies would look lovely together."Alice shot Carson a helpless look. "Um, not yet, Mrs. MacPherson. I'm still considering our options.""Oh, please call me mother" Carson's mother insisted. "We're going to be family soon! Now, about the seating arrangements..."After a lengthy conversati

The same way the Macpherson household bustled with activity, across town in a cozy apartment, another family gathered, their hearts full of excitement and a touch of nostalgia. Alice sat on the plush sofa, her son Charlie nestled in her arms, his tiny fingers playing with a lock of her hair. The living room was a picture of controlled chaos – garment bags draped over chairs, boxes of decorations stacked in corners, and the coffee table covered in swatches and magazines.Emma, Alice's younger sister, sat cross-legged on the floor, her art school portfolio spread out before her. She was sketching furiously, trying to capture the scene before her – her family, together and happy, on the eve of such a momentous occasion."Em, don't you think you should be helping instead of drawing?" Mark, their brother, called from the kitchen where he was arranging a platter of snacks.Emma rolled her eyes but didn't look up from her sketch. "This is helping. Alice will thank me later when she has a bea

Alice's head throbbed as she slowly regained consciousness. The room was dim, lit only by a single bulb swinging gently from the ceiling. She blinked, trying to focus her vision and remember how she had ended up here. Suddenly, the memories came rushing back - the dress fitting, the masked men, the struggle. She gasped, realizing she was still in her torn wedding dress, now dirty and wrinkled.She tried to move, but found her wrists and ankles bound to a chair. Panic rose in her chest as she looked around the unfamiliar room. It appeared to be some kind of warehouse or abandoned building, with concrete walls and a musty smell in the air."Hello?" she called out, her voice hoarse. "Is anyone there?"Silence answered her as her voice echoed. Alice fought back tears, thinking of Carson,Charlie and her family. They must be worried sick by now. She wondered how long she had been unconscious.Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. Her heart pounded, not knowing if it was a friend or f

Maxwell paced back and forth in the old warehouse, looking at his watch every few minutes. Alice sat in the corner, tied up, her once-pretty wedding dress now dirty and torn. She watched Maxwell, feeling scared and sad for him, wondering how her friend had become this scary, desperate man.There was a knock at the door. Maxwell's head jerked up, his eyes wide. "Finally," he muttered, hurrying to open it.An old man in priest clothes stood there, looking nervous and confused. "Mr. Johnson? I'm Father Thomas. I got your... strange request."Maxwell pulled the priest inside, quickly closing the door. "Yes, thank you for coming, Father. Like I said, this is a special situation."Father Thomas's eyes got big when he saw the room - the dirty warehouse, the tied-up woman in a wedding dress, the jumpy man who had called him. "Young man, what's going on here?" he asked, his voice shaky."Father, please help me!" Alice cried out. "He took me. He's trying to make me marry him!"The priest steppe